Agenda and minutes

Councillor Aileen Morton, Policy Lead for Education, Lifelong Learning and Strategic IT Services, took the Chair at this point.

Apologies for absence were intimated from Councillors Mary-Jean Devon, Anne Horn, John McAlpine and Alistair MacDougall.

There were no declarations of interest.

a)    The Minute of the Community Services Committee held on 11 December 2014 was approved as a correct record.

 

b)      The Minute of the Special Community Services Committee held on 12 January 2015 was approved as a correct record.

Presentation by Audit Scotland and Report by Executive Director – Community Services

Graeme Greenhill of Audit Scotland presented to the Committee the key findings from an Accounts Commission Audit on Scottish School Education and outlined some key features of education in Argyll and Bute including attainment, expenditure and elected Member scrutiny and responded to a number of questions arising from his presentation.  The Commission’s Audit assessed how efficiently and effectively Councils were using their resources to maximise pupil achievement in schools and the report outlined nine recommendations which were intended to support further progress and would involve Councils working closely with key stakeholders.

 

Decision

 

The Committee:-

 

1.    noted the key findings and recommendations contained within the Accounts Commission report on Scottish Schools Education and that a copy of the Audit Scotland presentation would be circulated to all Members of the Committee;

 

2.    requested that a report be brought back to a future meeting of the Community Services Committee advising on performance monitoring and tracking in relation to P1 – S3 pupils and progress with the National Outcomes Framework; and

 

3.    requested that a report be brought to the Community Services Committee in June 2015 detailing the expenditure profile of the Council’s Education Service.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 12 March 2015 and Accounts Commission report – Scottish School Education dated June 2014, submitted)

Councillor Elaine Robertson left the meeting at 11.45 am during consideration of the foregoing item.

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

Consideration was given to a report which provided information to elected Members of the proposed review of Additional Support Needs (ASN) provision by Education Services and outlined the proposed review methodology, timescales and engagement.

 

Decision

 

The Committee agreed:-

 

1.    to endorse the approach being taken by Education Service in taking forward the review of Additional Support Needs;

 

2.    to endorse that Education Services progress an ASN review as outlined in paragraphs 5.2 – 5.6 of the Executive Director’s report; and

 

3.    to request that Education Services presents a progress report for consideration at the Community Services Committee meeting in June 2015.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 12 March 2015, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

Consideration was given to a report which provided an update to elected Members on the initial School Leaver Destinations Report for Argyll and Bute for 2013/2014.

 

Decision

 

The Committee agreed:-

 

1.    to endorse the actions of Education Services and their partners in progressing Opportunities for All and Youth Employment;

 

2.    to support the actions being taken by the Opportunities for All partner agencies as detailed at paragraph 6.2 of the Executive –Director’s report;

 

3.    that a progress report is presented to the Community Services Committee in June 2015; and

 

4.    to request that the Executive Director write to the Scottish Funding Council in support of Argyll College’s funding allocation.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 29 January 2015, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

Consideration was given to a position paper which provided an update on the £110K Instrumental Music Service saving which was agreed as part of the budget decisions of the Council in February 2011.  The paper also highlighted the current cost pressure associated with delivery of the existing level of service and subsequent service challenges in achieving the agreed saving and sought approval that as part of the planning Service Choices programme further consideration be given to the longer term level of instrumental music tuition services provision.

 

Motion

 

That the Committee agree:-

 

1.    to note the background to the Instrumental Music Service and in particular the approaches previously taken to deliver the agreed £110k savings for the service;

 

2.    to note the current cost pressure associated with the delivery of the existing level of service; and

 

3.    that as part of the planning Service Choices programme consideration would be given to the longer term level of Instrumental Music Tuition Services provision.

 

Moved by Councillor Aileen Morton, seconded by Councillor George Freeman

 

Councillor Donald Kelly indicated that he would like to put forward an Amendment and the Chair ruled, and the Committee agreed, to adjourn the meeting at 1.35 pm for lunch to enable Councillor Kelly to consider the detail of his Amendment.

 

The Committee reconvened at 2.10 pm.

 

Councillors Isobel Strong and Robert E Macintyre did not return to the meeting.

 

Amendment

 

That the Committee agree:-

 

1.    to note the background to the Instrumental Music Service and in particular the approaches previously taken to deliver the agreed £110k savings for the service;

 

2.    to note the current cost pressure associated with the delivery of the existing level of service;

 

3.    that as part of the planning Service Choices programme consideration would be given to the longer term level of Instrumental Music Tuition Services provision; and

 

4.    to recommend to the Policy and Resources Committee that the 0.6 FTE music instructor post for brass tuition in Kintyre be reinstated.

 

Moved by Councillor Donald Kelly, seconded by Councillor John Armour

 

The requisite number of Members required the vote to be taken by calling the roll and Members voted as follows:-

 

 

 

Motion                                                            Amendment

 

Councillor R Colville                                        Councillor J Armour

Councillor R Currie                                         Councillor D Kelly

Councillor G Freeman                                                W Crossan

Councillor N MacIntyre

Councillor J McQueen

Councillor A Morton

Councillor D Philand

 

The Motion was carried by 7 votes to 3 and the Committee resolved accordingly.

 

Decision

 

The Committee agreed:-

 

1.    to note the background to the Instrumental Music Service and in particular the approaches previously taken to deliver the agreed £110k savings for the service;

 

2.    to note the current cost pressure associated with the delivery of the existing level of service; and

 

3.    that as part of the planning Service Choices programme consideration would be given to the longer term level of Instrumental Music Tuition Services provision.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 12 March 2015, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

Consideration was given to the Community Services financial quarter three performance scorecard.

 

Decision

 

The Committee noted performance for the quarter.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 12 March 2015, submitted)

Alison Palmer, William Crossan and William Marshall left the meeting at this point.

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

Consideration was given to a report which provided details of all external inspection/audit reports received within Community Services during the period 1 July to 31 December 2014.

 

Decision

 

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 13 February 2015, submitted)

Councillor Robin Currie, Policy Lead for Community & Culture and Strategic Housing,  took the Chair from this point.

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

Section 72 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 requires that a local authority prepare and make publicly available a Scheme of Assistance for private sector home owners to adapt and repair private housing.  A report seeking approval for a revised Scheme of Assistance for private sector housing was before the Committee for consideration.

 

Decision

 

The Committee:-

 

1.    approved the revised Scheme of Assistance; and

 

2.    noted that this revised Scheme of Assistance would be referred to the Argyll and Bute Shadow Integrated Joint Board for information.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 2 February 2015, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

Consideration was given to a report which informed Members of the content and implications of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014 which was approved in August 2014 and will be implemented in stages over the next two years.

 

Decision

 

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 13 January 2015, submitted)

Councillor Douglas Philand, Policy Lead for Adult Care, took the Chair from this point.

 

The Chair ruled, and the Committee agreed, to vary the order of business and consider the report on Independent Home Care Providers next.

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

Consideration was given to a report which provided an update on the Terms and Conditions of employment in use by Care at Home Providers.

 

Decision

 

The Committee agreed to note:-

 

1.    that action as part of this Review should have removed the risk of care at home providers not complying with minimum wage legislation and that the Council’s Procurement and Commissioning Team will continue to monitor this at quarterly contract monitoring meetings; and

 

2.    that new guidance on implementation of the living wage is expected to be issued by the Scottish Government in due course and that once this is received a further report will be brought back to the next available Committee about the implications of this.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services, submitted)

Councillors John Armour and Michael Breslin left the meeting at this point.

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

Consideration was given to a report which provided the Committee with an update of the progress achieved by the Council and NHS Highland in taking forward the arrangements for the integration of health and social care services as required by the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014.  The report provided a summary detail of the work undertaken by the Joint Project Team as directed by the Argyll and Bute Shadow Integration Joint Board.

 

Decision

 

The Committee agreed to:-

 

1.    note the contents of the report;

 

2.    note the decisions taken by the Strategic Health and Social Care Partnership in relation to the older person’s Change Fund projects; and

 

3.    note that the minutes of the Partnership will be presented to future meetings of the Community Services Committee.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 6 February 2015, submitted)

Councillor James McQueen left the meeting at this point.

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

Consideration was given to a report which provided the Committee with an update on progress made in relation to managing Option 1 (Direct Payments) of the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013.

 

Decision

 

The Committee noted the updated Direct Payment Policy and Procedures which reflects new regulations and which will be presented to the Council’s Policy and Resources Committee on 19 March 2015.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 14 October 2014)

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

Consideration was given to a report which highlighted the key messages and focussed on the recommendations made for all 32 Councils following an audit by Audit Scotland in relation to Councils’ progress in implementing the SDS Strategy and their readiness for the Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013.  The report also referenced key issues detailed in the audit of Planning, Leadership, Working in Partnership and Management Budgets which have already been, or require to be, addressed as part of Argyll and Bute Council’s SDS Strategy and implementation plan.

 

Decision

 

The Committee noted the content of the report.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 14 October 2014, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

Consideration was given to a report which advised the Committee of the Scottish Government’s response to the consultation on the delivery of community justice in Scotland and proposed a model that offers a local community solution to the achievement of improved outcomes for the management of offenders.

 

Decision

 

The Committee noted the content of the report and specifically that a new model for Community Justice will be in place by April 2017.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 8 February 2015, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

Consideration was given to the outline work plan to facilitate forward planning of reports to the Community Services Committee.

 

Decision

 

The Committee noted the outline work plan and agreed to accept the offer from Mr Ken McAra, Area Liaison Officer, Education Scotland, to provide a short presentation on the school inspection model at a future Committee meeting.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services, submitted)